Steelers Tell Roethlisberger No Contract Extension This Year

PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 24: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up prior to the game Kansas City Chiefs on August 24, 2013 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

(credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) – With just two years left on his contract, a time the Steelers have shown in the past that they’ll negotiate with Quarterbacks, Ben Roethlisberger has been told by the Steelers front office that there will be no extension for him this offseason.

As originally reported on the Steelers website, Art Rooney II has met with Roethlisberger to share with him the team’s intentions.

While they won’t ink their franchise Quarterback to a deal this offseason, Rooney II made it clear to Roethlisberger and his agent Ryan Tollner that their intent is to revisit negotiations after the season.

Rooney II added that they believe the salary cap will go up next year, so from a salary cap standpoint, that will be a better time to work out a franchise Quarterback type deal.

It appears the reasons for the delay in negotiations is multifaceted with most reasons surrounding the team’s salary cap issues.

The team has other players going into the final year of their contracts that they wanted to extend, as they have already done with Center Maurkice Pouncey, and signing Roethlisberger to a deal now would jeopardize their ability to keep other key players. That leads to the second reason, Rooney II said he believes Roethlisberger wants to be part of a winning team, and by holding off his extension until next year, that will allow them field a more competitive team this year.

According to the report on the Steelers website, the teams commitment to their franchise Quarterback has not wavered.

Starting on Tuesday, Sept. 9, you can hear from Ben Roethlisberger every Tuesday at 11 a.m. as part of his weekly appearance on the Cook and Poni Show.